Detroit Free Press Special Writer

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Michigan is no stranger to recruiting the nation’s elite, but the Wolverines have never signed the America’s top recruit. U-M is hoping that changes in the 2014 class and the coaching staff will soon have a chance to take that dream one step closer to reality.

Woodbridge (Va.) defensive end Da’Shawn Hand is the country’s consensus top player in the 2014 class. Standing 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, he has exceptional quickness off the ball, above-average strength and an understanding of the game’s techniques well beyond his years. He’s also a mature young man who doesn’t get caught up in the hype of what his ranking means.

“He has been kind of quiet lately about recruiting,” said Woodbridge assistant football coach John Harris. “He wanted to do kid stuff in February. National Signing Day was a bit much for him. I'm just happy he doesn't have a big head. All he wants to do is train and hang with his teammates.”

More important than all of that ability (and humility) from a U-M fan’s perspective? He also counts Michigan as one of his top five schools.

"Michigan has my favorite coaching staff ever,” Hand said. “Coach (Greg) Mattison and Coach (Jerry) Montgomery are the coaches that are recruiting me, and I just love to talk to them. I haven't been up there yet, but I'm going to try to get up there soon."

A lot has changed in the month since Hand uttered that quote. U-M lost defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery to Oklahoma, and Mattison’s duties as defensive coordinator adapted to take on the defensive line role, as well. More importantly, Hand scheduled his visit to Ann Arbor.

“We will be up there March 15-17,” said Harris. “We’ll probably get up there late on the 15th and come back Sunday afternoon.”

That visit –– Hand’s first to Ann Arbor –– coincides with the opening of spring practice. It will give the five-star end a chance to not only see the coaches in action, but get to meet with them in person and see what they’re all about when it comes to running a program. Although there’s a long way to go before Signing Day 2014 is even in sight, Michigan’s chance to impress one of the top targets in the class should make for an exciting weekend.

Tim Sullivan is the Football Recruiting Editor of The Wolverine magazine and TheWolverine.com. He is also a contributor to national football recruiting coverage on the Rivals.com network. You can follow him on Twitter @TimS_Wolverine.